2022-2023 School Year
School Starts at 8:05 am
Monday-Thursday Dismissal 3:05 pm
Friday Dismissal 1:00 pm
2023-2024 School Year
School Starts at 7:40 am
Monday-Thursday Dismissal 2:40 pm
Friday Dismissal 12:40 pm
 | COUGAR PRIDE Carson Elementary Principal Newsletter |  |
We are Carson!
Climate and Culture~ We provide a safe, collaborative, and inclusive community that fosters a sense of belonging and joy. We empower students to develop growth mindsets and to advocate for their social-emotional and academic needs in order to build resilience.
Professional Learning Culture~ We build and maintain trusting, collaborative relationships in order to intentionally foster growth and well-being of students and staff.
Family & Community Engagement~We partner with our families and community to embrace diversity, nurture trust, and provide a variety of opportunities to engage with Carson in meaningful ways.
Learning and Instruction~We maintain high expectations of students while providing rigorous, engaging, authentic instruction through culturally responsive and data driven practices to ensure student success.
Principal Message
| Hello Carson Community, Today students participated in a surprise safety drills to ensure all students and staff know what to do in an emergency. The safety of all children and staff in our schools is very important to us. In order to maintain a safe environment for children to study and learn, it is necessary that we practice emergency and crisis response plans by having drills designed to exercise our procedures. We conduct various drills throughout the school year. Today we practiced the following drills: Secure: Adults: Bring everyone indoorsLock outside doorsIncrease situational awarenessAccount for students and adultsBusiness as usualLockdown: locks lights, out of sightMove away from sightMaintain silenceAdults: Recover students from the hallway, if possibleLock the classroom doorTurn out the lightsMove away from sightMaintain silencePrepare to evade or defendDo not open the door Although we did not practice an evacuation drill today, we do conduct them once a month. Evacuate (fire drill)Adults:Lead students to evacuation locationAccount for students and adultsNotify if missing, extra or injured people Please remember that these safety practice drills are done to help maintain our schools as a safe place to learn and work. Our students did a wonderful job at staying calm and going through the practice experience. If you have any questions regarding any of these safety drills or other safety concerns, please contact Jessica or Norma at 720.424.9090. With gratitude,  |
School Choice
| The SchoolChoice application deadline for the 2023-24 school year ends soon- Feb. 14 at 4:00! If you know of a family- neighborhood or choice- who will be attending or wants to attend Carson next year, please encourage them to apply through SchoolChoice. This way we can welcome them to Carson and add them to our school communication portal. We can’t wait to meet our new families! Finally, please help us prepare for the upcoming school year by filling out the “intent to return survey’ found below. Thank you in advance! |
Intent to Return to Carson Survey
If you have not yet filled out the 2023-24 Carson Enrollment Survey, please do so whether you are intending to return to Carson next year or not. |
CSC
| Thank you to all who joined us for our CSC meeting about the Carson 2023-2024 school year budget. If you missed it, here is the link to the minutes. Our recording, unfortunately, did not capture any audio. |
Garden Club
| Calling all gardeners, people who like gardens, and people who think they may like to work in the dirt. Carson is starting a garden club and our first meeting will be Wednesday, February 8th at 7:30 am in Ms. Holdeman’s room, (room 107.) The club is open to all grades so she can’t wait to see who would like to join her in starting a garden at Carson. |
Character Education
| Happy New Year Carson Families, January was a great month for celebrating kindness. We couldn’t have accomplished this without our amazing volunteers. A special thank you to them: Jessica Campaore, Megan Garnett, Cammie Lendrum, Georgina Albert, Ryan Church, Ben Bitler, Stephanie Thielen, Maia Krasche, Julie McLaughlin, Julie Hemphill, Andi Jacobs, Kara Rivera, Ali Price, Jessica Pollyea, Ellie Nartey and Jon Stemmler We are pleased to welcome our newest members of Ed’s Character Crew for Kindness: Kindergarten: Marley G., Elizabeth L. and Julian S.First Grade: Nathan R., Hansel Y. and Catherine L. Second Grade: Malek A, Dylan T, and Leo T. Third Grade: Eliza H., Beatrice D. and Declan M.Fourth Grade: ,Cora E., Dylan Z. and Sydney K.Fifth Grade: Emmett J., Yara A. and Nixon M. Next week, we look forward to celebrating courage, starting African American History Month and discussing advocating for ourselves. If you would like to help volunteer with the classroom project please email carsoncharacter@gmail.com Also, Character Education is looking for two (or more) new co-chairs for next year. If you have any interest and would like to shadow the remaining 3 traits please email carsoncharacter@gmail.com to find out more. |
Crossing Guards Needed!
| WANT TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR INCOME FOR JUST A FEW HOURS A WEEK? School Crossing Guards help school children cross the street safely. School Crossing Guards are required to be dependable and able to work outside during adverse weather. This position offers Ten (10) hours per week, $18.00 per hour. Click here for more detailsFlyer Link |
Substitute Teachers
| Become a substitute for Carson! Enjoy a flexible schedule! Join a great team! Make a difference for our school! Becoming a sub for DPS is fast and easy. The first step is to obtain your license from the Colorado Department of Education. Here’s how! Talk to Colleen if you have any questions! |
Reminders
| 2023-24 Carson Enrollment Survey Please complete by January 31st. Have a fabulous weekend!English Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey Español Survey Français Surveyعربى Survey (Arabic) አማርኛ Survey (Amharic) فارسی Survey (Farsi/Persian)International Day Volunteer Sign UpSpring Gifted and Talented Testing Nomination Link – due 4/7/23visit soraapp.com -DPS login & read on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.School Tours: tour sign up link for prospective Carson families & volunteer link 1st-5th grade school fee payment linkKinder school fee payment linkWhen to Keep Students Home |
Resources
| January Breakfast MenuJanuary Lunch MenuFebruary Breakfast MenuFebruary Lunch Menu22-23 Carson Specific CalendarCarson Spiritwear |
Upcoming Events
| 2/6: Lost and Found Donated2/9, 3/9 & 4/13: Social/Emotional Series~ English/Spanish2/20: President’s Day~ No School2/21: Teacher Work Day~ No School3/6: Lost and Found Donated3/16: Science Fair3/16: 4th and 5th Grade Arts Exhibition @ 3:30-4:45 Carson 3/17: International Day4/13: 2nd and 3rd Grade Arts Exhibition @ 3:30-4:45 Carson 4/20: Kinder and 1st Grade Arts Exhibition @ 3:30-4:45 Carson Carson Specific Calendar |
PTA News
  Upcoming EventsDine for Dollars | Tuesday, January 31 | Mici Italian SPECIAL PTA MEETING TO APPROVE FUNDING | February 9 at 6pm | CarsonChildcare and pizza will be provided February PTA meeting | February 23, 2023 | Carson Colorado Rapids Carson Fundraising Night | April 22, 7:30 PM | Dick’s Sporting Goods ParkSee details below Save the date for Carson Dance | April 28, 2023 Future PTA Events  What’s new DINE FOR DOLLARS – TUESDAY 1/31 – MICI ITALIANPTA Bylaws updateCarson PTA Bylaws are being amended. Please review the proposed changes. These proposed changes will be voted on during the February PTA meeting on February 23, 2023. Join the Colorado Rapids for Carson Elementary Fundraising Night!Carson Elementary will have two sections to cheer as the Colorado Rapids take on the St. Louis City, 4/22 at 7:30 pm at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. A portion of every ticket goes back to supporting Carson.Buy tickets here. Tuesday Teacher TreatsAll slots have been filled! Many thanks to the volunteers who have signed up! Girl Scout Cookies for Teachers (and for you)!  Hello, we are Girl Scout Troop 65740, and most of our girls are current or former students at Carson Elementary.It is Girl Scout Cookie Season!During this cookie season, we are selling cookies to raise money for sleeping at the aquarium and for Girl Scout camp. Our troop is also saving up to take a trip to Oregon. Our troop’s Hometown Heroes (the recipient of donated cookies) are all of the hardworking teachers at Carson Elementary!Please order cookies from us!We will also have a cookie booth after school on the playground for a few days in February, we hope to see you there!We will deliver orders to your doorstep. Cookie delivery starts on February 5th.Place an order on our cookie website on Jan 17 – Mar 11, or scan this QR code with your smartphone: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Do-si-dos, Adventurefuls and Lemon-ups are $5 and S’mores and Toffee-Tastics (GF) are $6.The new Raspberry Rallies ($5) are only available online for shipping this year. You can start buying them on February 27.Thank you!  VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESHere are some fantastic ways that you can volunteer at Carson. Please reach out to Nicole Thrasher @ nicolethrasher@msn.com if you have any questions! Lunchroom VolunteersSupervise students during their lunch. Help with hard to open lunches, clean up, and composting. Click Here to be a LUNCH VOLUNTEER End-Of-Year eventsOur end-of-year hospitality events need a few more volunteers!Click here to find out which events and sign up.Reach out to nicolethrasher@msn.com with any questions. Help Lead a Carson School Tour We need at least two volunteers for each tour slot to team up with Mirriah and another parent to lead the tour. It’s easy and fun!Sign up Here  Congratulations to the Auction Parking Spot Winners!A gentle reminder that the two Auction Winner parking spots on Grape Street are only for the families who purchased those spots at the auction. There is still some beautiful artwork left, please visit the Carson foyer to see and bid on this!Artist Jon Stemler painted canvases that our sweet kids sketched on first. The outcome is fabulous! Check out the artwork which is being displayed in the Carson lobby.  Pick up your Auction winnings! If you have not picked up your auction winnings, please contact Kristen at kristenalkire@gmail.com  With the recent news that Amazon is changing its AmazonSmile program next month, now is the time to make purchases to benefit the Carson Elementary PTA! Come mid-February 2023, Carson (and countless other charitable organizations) will no longer be an eligible beneficiary of AmazonSmile. That means you only have 4 more weeks to maximize your giving!!Help raise funds to support our school at no additional cost to you. It’s easy! Just click on the link below, choose Carson Elementary PTA as your charity of choice, and shop through AmazonSmile every time you make a purchase on Amazon. To activate AmazonSmile in the Amazon Shopping app:open the Amazon app on your phone;tap the icon on the bottom right corner of the screen (those 3 small horizontal lines); select the “Gifting, Registry & Charity” box (it’s the top row center box with the stuffed elephant); scroll down and tap “AmazonSmile”; you will be prompted to choose your charity, Carson Elementary PTA; and finally,make sure you have the mobile app turned on in your AmazonSmile account! To make purchases in your web browser, remember to use type in smile.amazon.com. It is seamless. It looks exactly like your Amazon.com account, including orders, history, and shopping cart. And all purchases will benefit Carson Elementary through the program end date of February 20. |
Carson Community Bulletin Board
| Check out all of these amazing resources in our community that are updated weekly! Carson Community Bulletin Board. If you have anything for the community board please email it to jessica_compaore@dpsk12.net |
This is Carson!
| January | |
| Total Enrollment: | 413 |
| Attendance: | 94.96% |
| Teachers: | 32 |
| Support Staff: | 22 |
| Demographics | |
| American Indian or Alaskan Native: | 2.2% |
| Asian: | 5% |
| Black: | 8.23% |
| Hispanic: | 8.64% |
| Multiple Races: | 5% |
| White: | 72% |
| Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: | 0% |
| Free/Reduced Lunch: | 12.41 % (2021-22 data) |
| Highly/Gifted and Talented: | 81 (19.6%) |
| Deaf/Hard of Hearing: | 19 (4.6%) |
| Multilingual Learners: | 30 (7.3%) |
| Special Education: | 28 (6.7%) |
| Students of Color: | 28.6% |
Please excuse any errors in translation.